Contingency funds set aside for mall revamp

The redevelopment of the Todd Street Mall in Alice Springs is running to budget, despite contractors discovering electrical wires, sewerage systems and water pipes that were not on town plans.

The $5 million redevelopment will reopen the northern end of the mall to traffic and is expected to be completed by July.

The project director, Lyndon Frearson, says money was set aside in the original budget to address any unexpected costs.

"The project as it currently stand is on budget," he said.

"We did commence the project with a contingency.

"We've had to use some of that contingency as we've found services underground that were not planned or we were not expecting but overall the project is still on budget and we still have some of that contingency left."